Gastrointestinal metabolism of Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharides and its related hypoglycemic mechanism based on gut microbial transformation.

Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharides (AMP) was reported to exhibit hypoglycemic potential in diabetic host. However, the metabolic fate of AMP in gastrointestinal tract and its underlying hypoglycemic mechanisms remained unclear. Our current study aimed to reveal the structure alteration of AMP in gastrointestinal tract and its hypoglycemic mechanism from the perspective of microbial transformation.

Role of gut microbiota on regulation potential of Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo in metabolic syndrome: In-vitro fermentation screening and in-vivo verification in db/db mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo (DEN) is a traditional medicine in China since Han dynasty. Decoction of its stem is often used in the treatment of Type-II diabetes (T2D), which is a typical metabolic disease accompanied with the impaired metabolic function of blood glucose and lipid.

Aim Of The Study: Our study aimed to investigate the role of gut microbiota in differentiating DEN from different sources and its related pathway in the alleviation of metabolic syndromes induced by T2D.

Gut microbiota mediated hypoglycemic effect of polysaccharides in mice.

Gut microbiota has been reported to be closely associated with Type-II diabetes. Restoration of disordered gut microbiota ecosystem has been developed into a therapeutic strategy and gradually applied on Type-II diabetes treatment with both western drugs and herbal polysaccharides. Although polysaccharides (AMP) have also been used to treat Type-II diabetes, no study investigated correlations between gut microbiota regulation and its hypoglycemic effect.

Identification of the in vivo relevant dissolution media for the three active components in EGb 761 tablet for better correlation with their pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects.

Although EGb 761, the standardized dry extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves, exhibited numerous pharmacological activities and widely used in Asia, European and North America, the quality control of its dosage forms such as tablet mainly relies on monitoring the contents of the active marker components, namely quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, bilobalide, ginkgolide A, ginkgolide B and ginkgolide C. So far, the in vitro dissolution profiles of EGb761 tablet were barely used to monitor its quality and how these dissolution profiles correlate with their in vivo pharmacokinetics was not known. Thus, the present study was proposed aiming to 1) develop the in vitro-in vivo correlations (IVIVCs) for the marker components in EGb 761 tablet; 2) identify the in vivo relevant dissolution media for the marker components in EGb 761 tablet based on the established IVIVCs.

Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Pentaherbs formula and Its Influence on Gut Microbiota in Allergic Asthma.

Allergic asthma is a highly prevalent airway inflammatory disease, which involves the interaction between the immune system, environmental and genetic factors. Co-relation between allergic asthma and gut microbiota upon the change of diet have been widely reported, implicating that oral intake of alternative medicines possess a potential in the management of allergic asthma. Previous clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies have shown that the Pentaherbs formula (PHF) comprising five traditional Chinese herbal medicines Lonicerae Flos, Menthae Herba, Phellodendri Cortex, Moutan Cortex, and Atractylodis Rhizoma possesses an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory potential through suppressing various immune effector cells.

Combating against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - two fatty acids from Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) exhibit synergistic effects with erythromycin.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to identify the active ingredients from Portulaca oleracea L. (PO) that could provide synergism with antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and their possible mechanisms of resistance inhibition.

Methods: High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and a panel of laboratory MRSA strains were used for checkerboard and efflux inhibitory assays.

In Vivo Study on the Pharmacological Interactions between a Chinese Herbal Formula ELP and Antiresorptive Drugs to Counteract Osteoporosis.

Antiresorptive drugs, alendronate and raloxifene, are effective in lowering bone mineral density (BMD) loss in postmenopausal women. However, long-term treatment may be associated with serious side effects. Our research group has recently discovered that a Chinese herbal formula, ELP, could significantly reduce BMD loss in animal and human studies.

Separation, structure characterization, conformation and immunomodulating effect of a hyperbranched heteroglycan from Radix Astragali.

A water soluble polysaccharide (RAP) was isolated and purified from Radix Astragali and its structure was elucidated by monosaccharide composition, partial acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis, and further supported by FT-IR, GC-MS and H and C NMR spectra, SEM and AFM microscopy. Its average molecular weight was 1334kDa. It was composed of Rha, Ara, Glc, Gal and GalA in a molar ratio of 0.

The role of turmerones on curcumin transportation and P-glycoprotein activities in intestinal Caco-2 cells.

The rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric) is often used in Asia as a spice and as a medicine. Its most well-studied component, curcumin, has been shown to exhibit poor bioavailability in animal studies and clinical trials. We hypothesized that the presence of lipophilic components (e.

Polysaccharides from the root of Angelica sinensis promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Background: Dozens of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas have been used for promotion of "blood production" for centuries, and we are interested in developing novel thrombopoietic medicines from these TCMs. Our previous studies have demonstrated the hematopoietic effects of DangGui BuXue Tong (DBT), a formula composed of Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Radix Astragali in animal and cellular models. As a step further to identify and characterize the active chemical components of DBT, we tested the hematopoietic and particularly, thrombopoietic effects of polysaccharide-enriched fractions from the root of Radix Angelicae Sinensis (APS) in this study.

An herbal decoction of Radix astragali and Radix angelicae sinensis promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: A decoction containing Radix angelicae sinensis and Radix astragali (Danggui Buxue Tang, DBT) has been used to raise the "Qi" and nourish the "Blood". However, its effects on haematopoiesis and particularly thrombopoiesis have not been studied.

Aims: This study aims to examine the effects of DBT on hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.

Rapid detection of oilfish and escolar in fish steaks: A tool to prevent keriorrhea episodes.

The outbreak of keriorrhea caused by the wax ester-rich oilfish and escolar has become a frequent and worldwide concern. To help prevent such episodes, rapid detection of these fishes in the supply chain of the seafood industry and by food and health inspection agencies is essential. Through a combination of DNA, GC-MS and TLC analyses with reference to authentic samples, fish steaks of oilfish and escolar mislabeled as other species could be accurately identified.